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December 31, 2011 edition of the Whidbey News-Times
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NEWS-TIMESWHIDBEY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2011 | Vol. 112, No. 105 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | 75¢
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2011
JanuaryOak Harbor hired Langley’s planning chief,
Larry Cort, giving him the title of project spe-cialist. Cort is also a former Coupeville planner and sits on the Coupeville Town Council.
Republican County Commissioner Kelly Emerson, representing District 3, was sworn in, replacing Democrat John Dean, whom she defeated in the election.
Land use violations against Commissioner Kelly Emerson and her husband, Ken, totaled $37,000, county records showed.
An archeologist hired by Oak Harbor found Native American artifacts near the city’s drain-age outfall replacement project, causing a delay.
Coupeville Town Council banned the sale of guns on South Main Street due to the proxim-ity of schools. The action was in response to a rumored sporting goods store that never materialized.
A lawsuit filed by Commissioner Kelly Emerson and her husband was called “frivo-lous” by attorneys defending Island County and former Commissioner John Dean. At issue were county enforcement procedures and campaign statements.
The popular Miriam’s Espresso shop in Coupeville closed due to business and family concerns.
Oak Harbor’s plan to sell $2.9 million in revenue bonds for marina improvements fell through when the sale attracted no interest. Later, general obligation bonds were sold.
Due to budget cuts, the Island County Sheriff’s Office became the lowest staffed in the state, based on deputies per 1,000 popula-
tion, according to Sheriff Mark Brown.A computer problem that resulted in the
loss of county emails was described as “a catastrophe” by Prosecutor Greg Banks.
Inmates in Oak Harbor’s jail were given the opportunity to work off their sentences out-doors rather than sitting in their cell all day.
Oak Harbor officials changed subcommittee meeting rules to comply with advice from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
FebruaryExplosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment
Northwest, at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, was featured in the News-Times for
responding to a number of civilian bomb scares on the island.
Oak Harbor Mayor Jim Slowik signed a $3.86 million contract with Strider Construction of Bellingham to complete the bulk of the work for the SE Pioneer Way Improvement Project.
The Oak Harbor Arts Council considered public input for prospective works of art to go with the downtown revitalization project. Particularly favored was a bronze topless mer-maid by Oak Harbor artist Larry Marcell.
Oak Harbor Marina Harbormaster Mack
in reviewA fiery plane crash, tragic murders and Native American bones halting a major project were some of the news-makers on Whidbey in 2011.
Joshua Lambert is arrested by Oak Harbor police after he allegedly killed his two grand-fathers.
A firefighter battles a blaze that destroyed a home in Coupeville in March.
A single-engine plane burns after crashing into Ebey’s Bluff in early December.
SEE REVIEW, A7
By JUSTIN BURNETTStaff reporter
The search for a 31-year-old Oak Harbor woman who has been miss-ing since November ended tragi-cally this week when her body was discovered in the water off Port Townsend.
According to Oak Harbor Police Detective Sgt. Teri Gardner, Melissa Christine Ellis was found just before 3 p.m. We d n e s d a y floating just offshore of a constr uction site. Her body has been posi-tively identified and a Jefferson County coroner determined her cause of death as salt water drowning.
“There is no indication at this time that there was foul play,” Gardner said.
Ellis disappeared Friday, Nov 25, the day after Thanksgiving. She was
Missing woman’s body found floating
SEE ELLIS, A2
Sports: OH grad plays pros in Germany. A9
Melissa Christine Ellis
last seen leaving her Oak Harbor home between 10 and 11 a.m. and report-edly told family that she was going to Coupeville or the beach, Gardner said.
The mother of three commonly rode on Island Transit buses and at times suffered from memory loss. Her cell phone was found on a sidewalk outside her home and she didn’t leave with her identification, Gardner said.
Since her disappearance, authorities investigated whether Ellis did in fact get on a bus but found no trace of her. They
are still in the process of trying to ascer-tain whether she boarded a ferry.
Gardner said it remains unknown how Ellis ended up in Puget Sound off Port Townsend. However, it appears that her death was not a recent event, the detective said.
“I was advised she had been in the water for quite some time,” Gardner said.
The woman’s family, many of whom live out of state, were notified on Thursday following confirmation of Ellis’s identity. Her three children are all under the age of 10 and staying with family in Oak Harbor, Gardner said.
There are no preliminary indications
that Ellis was intoxicated when she died but Gardner said standard procedure dictates that a toxicology screen be per-formed. The results usually take between four and six weeks to be returned.
Gardner said she knew Ellis person-ally, having met the young woman years before. The detective described her as a joy to be around and someone who will be missed.
“She was a good person,” Gardner said.
A fund for Ellis’ family was in the pro-cess of being set up at Whidbey Island Bank Friday afternoon. For details, inquire with the bank.
Page A2 WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
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By NATHAN WHALENStaff reporter
A possible slingshot wield-ing vandal is plaguing Island Transit bus shelters on North Whidbey Island.
Island Transit officials noticed that someone shot out glass panels of a bus shelter near the Vanderzicht Memorial Pool in Oak Harbor on Dec. 16, Dec. 23 and again on Dec. 27. Glass at a bus shel-ter on West Beach Road was recently shot out as well.
“There’s definitely been a rash,” said Martha Rose, Island Transit executive direc-tor. “It’s really sad when people do that.”
Workers from Island Transit suspect someone used a slingshot to knock out the windows. After each incident, they discovered three-eighth inch ball bearings at each bus shelter, said Roy Daniel, oper-ations supervisor for Island Transit. Those ball bearings are used as ammunition for a
popular slingshot, known as a “Wrist Rocket.”
Island Transit has filed a report with local police about the vandalized bus shelters.
Transit staff replace glass at several shelters through-out the year. Most times, the broken glass is caused by something as simple as a car kicking up a rock. However, because so many glass panes were broken at one shelter, officials think someone inten-tionally shattered them.
“It’s very hard to catch peo-ple doing it,” Daniel said.
The glass in the bus shel-ters is costly to replace. Including installation, it costs Island Transit $250 per pane to replace shattered glass. Daniel noted that the panes are com-prised of safety glass, which is designed to shatter into small pieces when broken.
Rose said she doesn’t know when the panes will be replaced. Staff is holding off on replacing the panes until
the vandalism ends or some-one is caught.
In addition, Island Transit is looking to install additional surveillance cameras at sever-al bus shelters throughout the area. Currently, cameras are installed at bus shelters near Prairie Center in Coupeville, Harbor Station in Coupeville and Terry’s Corner on Camano Island.
Rose said additional cam-eras will help improve public safety around shelters. She
doesn’t yet know know how many cameras will eventually be installed or which bus shel-ters will receive them.
Meanwhile, officials are busy preparing for construc-tion of a new headquarters building near Coupeville along with a realignment of the intersection of Highway 20 and Parker Road. Island Transit will start looking for a construction manager and seek requests for proposals to design the project in 2012.
Oak Harbor has a new TOY STORE. It’s Your Turn opened its doors in December and focuses on the Melissa & Doug toy line. The shop is located in Trader’s Village on Mid-way Boulevard. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
MICHAEL-JOHN’S TRADING POST in
Oak Harbor has moved to a new location. The vintage and antique home-decor shop is now located on SE Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor.
Washington State Fer-ries will celebrate the KENNEWICK’S com-pletion Friday, Jan. 6, at the ferry terminal in Port Townsend. The super-structure of the vessel was built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland. The event is open to the public and begins at 11 a.m. The ferry will take over for the Salish.
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By JUSTIN BURNETTStaff reporter
Scott Dudley officially became Oak Harbor’s new mayor Wednesday when he was sworn in during a quiet proceeding at City Hall.
With little ceremony or pomp, Dudley took his oath of office in a barren city coun-cil chambers before a crowd of just two city employees and City Clerk Connie Wheeler, the official who administered the oath.
Raising his right hand, Dudley swore to support the Constitutions and laws of the United States and Washington and the ordi-nances of the city. He also promised “to the best of my judgement, skill and ability, truly and faithfully, diligently and impartially,” perform his duties as mayor.
Dudley said later he is not taking his new position lightly and will not forget who he’s working for. He said his hope is to make his support-ers proud and earn the trust of those who advocated for ousted Mayor Jim Slowik.
“My goal is to not let
the citizens of Oak Harbor down,” Dudley said.
He also made clear that he plans to waste no time in rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. Beginning with the very first city council meeting next week Tuesday, Jan. 3, Dudley plans to fol-low through with some of his promised agenda.
Planned as a discussion item only, the fledgling mayor said he will address several issues concerning the city’s standing committee meet-ings. Dudley said he wants feedback about changing the meeting times and locations.
Three of the four commit-tees meet at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and two are at locations away from City Hall. Dudley says they should all be at the same place and held at times more convenient to the public. He also wants to discuss video taping all of the meetings.
Dudley is hoping for a positive response but said he won’t be deterred with one of the issues if there is resis-tance. The city council sets committee time and locations but taping meetings can be paid for out of the mayor’s budget, which leaves the decision up to him, he said.
“We will be televising (com-mittee meetings),” he said.
Also sworn in Wednesday with similar oaths of office were Beth Munns, Rick Almberg and Tara Hizon. Munns and Almberg are beginning their second four-year terms after running suc-cessful re-election campaigns this past November while Hizon is taking a seat on the city council for the first time.
She replaces Jim Palmer, who decided not to run for personal reasons.
Hizon said she was over-whelmed with the confidence
expressed by voters during the election and continues to be awed by the reception and encouragement she receives from people around town.
“I’m just really excited to serve,” Hizon said.
She also plans to dive into her new position, investigat-ing technologies that will improve the city’s commu-nication with the public and by advocating for the city’s youth. She may serve as the city council’s liaison to the Oak Harbor School Board and on the Government Services and Public Safety standing committees.
Almberg said he will strive to balance a tight budget with the needs of the public and is eager to get to work on the planned wastewater treatment plant. He wants to serve the whole community as well, including both those who voted for him and those who did not.
“I’ll do my best to represent all of the people,” Almberg said.
Finally, Munns said she is looking forward to working on the city’s new sewer treat-ment plant too, along with other needed infrastructure projects. She said she also hopes to “win over those who didn’t vote for me.”
A ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for Dudley, Munns and Hizon will be held at next Tuesday’s city council meeting. Almberg will not be there as he will be away on a pre-excused absence.
Dudley, council sworn in No arrests
yet in Everett shootingBy JUSTIN BURNETTStaff reporter
No breakthroughs have been made in a case involv-ing a Whidbey Island man that was shot in Everett Saturday.
According to Everett Police Department Sgt. Robert Goetz, the incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on the 1800 block of 18th Street. Patrol officers responded to multiple 911 calls from residents who reported hearing gun shots.
“We received several calls of shots fired in the area,” he said.
Arriving officers found a 20-year-old man with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the leg. The case is still under investigation and the man is not being identified, though Goetz did say he had a Whidbey Island driver’s license.
“That doesn’t mean he
lives there still,” he added.The man was taken
to Providence Regional Medical Center where he reportedly underwent sur-gery for a non-life-threaten-ing wound.
As of Friday, no arrests have been made but a 22-year-old Everett man did show up at the police sta-tion Saturday shortly after the shooting and indicated he was involved. He was not injured.
According to Goetz, the shooting happened outside near the street but the rela-tionship between the two men and why the shooting occurred remains unclear largely due to inconsisten-cies with the 22-year-old man’s story.
“We’re not calling any-one a suspect or victim at this point,” Goetz said.
Investigators are not looking for any other per-sons involved in the inci-dent. Anyone with informa-tion regarding the shooting is urged to call the Everett Police Department’s tip line at 425-257-8450.
Whidbey man shot; police befuddled
Mayor Scott Dudley and City Council members Tara Hizon, Beth Munns and Rick Almberg were sworn in Wednesday.
Page A4 WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
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TrinityLutheran
Church
www.trinitylutheranfreeland.comWoodard Road, Hwy. 525,
Freeland
Sunday Worship 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00Nursery provided
James Lindus, PastorDennis Hanson, PastorGeorge Brunjes, Pastor
Eric Ottum, PastorKarl Olsen, Minister of Music
St. Stephen’sEpiscopalChurch
Worship Services held in All Saint’s Chapel (Building across from large church)
SUNDAY SERVICES10:00AM
SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS AT 10:00AM
360-279-0715www.ststephensofoakharbor.org
555 SE Regatta Dr. • Oak Harbor
Oak HarborUnited Pentecostal Church
Sunday Service - NoonWednesday Bible Study 7pm
Pastor Mark Dillon404-661-4653
Mailing Address:41 NE Midway Blvd Suite 103
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
WhidbeyPresbyterian
Church1148 SE 8th Ave
Oak Harbor11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
9:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship Dave Templin, Pastor
Bethany Popkes, Youth DirectorKurt Imbach, Adult Facilitator www.whidbeypres.org
679-3579Child Care is available and Everyone Welcome
Sunday Services8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am
(“Kids on the Rock” Ministry for Children
ages 3mos.-5th grade meets at all services)
“Amped” Jr. High Youth: Sun., 5:00 pm“Legacy” High School Youth: Sun., 7:15 pm
Small GroupsWomen’s Ministry • Men’s Ministry
Russ Schlecht ~ Senior Pastorwww.elivingword.org
490 NW Crosby Ave., Oak Harbor 675-5008
Whidbey IslandMessianic Fellowship
Where Yeshua is LordWe welcome you to join us
for worship and celebration
Erev Shabbat Friday 7-9 pmShabbat Service Saturday 10:30 amLunch Fellowship Saturday 12-1 pmBible Study Saturday 1-3 pm
Oak Harbor 360-675-7189
Sunday Worship ...8:30 am & 10:45 amClasses For All Ages ..................9:45 am
Youth Ministries-Choirs-Bible StudiesDave Johnson, Pastor
675-2441 • www.ohfumc.org1050 SE Ireland St • Oak Harbor
FirstUnitedMethodistChurch
Oak HarborSouthernBaptistChurch50 SW 6th Avenue
Bible Study For All Ages.....9:15 a.m.Worship Services.....10:45 a.m. & 6 p.m.Wednesday Services..................6 p.m.Prayer Meeting & Student Ministries
Child care for all services.Pastor Grafton Robinson
Associate Pastor Lemuel B. Villano675-6686
www.ohsbc.org
God-Centered Worship Christ-Centered Preaching Verse-by-Verse Teaching
Worship: 1 PM 1411 Wieldraayer Road (off of Swantown Road)
Pastor Keith McFaul360-279-9713
www.GraceEvangelical.org
874 Plantation DriveGreenbank, WA
(Just two miles south of the Greenbank Farm)
Sunday School9:15am
Worship Service10:30 am
(360) 678-4612www.whidbey-efc.com
WHIDBEY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
House of Prayer FaithTabernacle of Praise
Monday Prayer Meeting - 6:00 P.M.Tuesday Night Bible Study- 6:30 P.M.Friday High Praise Service- 6:30 P.M.
Sunday Celebration/Children’s Ministry – 9:30 A.M.Sunday Morning Worship Service – 11:00 A.M.
Church Telephone Number (360)679-1003Bishop Charles And Pastor Effi e Boyles (360)929-3127
620 A/B Erin Park DriveOak Harbor, WA 98277
(NEXT TO U-HAUL BLDG.)
Unitarian UniversalistCongregation
of Whidbey Island
20103 State Route 525Freeland
Sunday Service at 10:00 am
Minister: Rev. Elizabeth “Kit” KetchamChildcare Year-Round
Religious Education Sept-JuneAll are welcome360-321-8656
www.whidbey.com/[email protected]
(Behind K-Mart)Sunday Morning Services
Children and Worship675-4837
www.frcoh.org [email protected]
CALVARY APOSTOLIC TABERNACLE(The Pentecostals of Island County)
(behind Precision Tire)
SOULS HARBORA SAFE PLACE TO CALL HOME
Sunday Morning...............10amSunday Evening ............ 6:30pmWednesday ..........................7pm
632-7243Pastor Greg Adkins
Oak HarborChurch of Christ
1000 NE Koetje Street(Just North of Offi ce Max)
“To Know Christ & Make Him Known”Sunday Morning:
Worship Assembly .......................9:30 amBible Classes for all ages............11:00amWed. Classes for all ages ..............6:30pm
Joe Cook, Preaching Ministerwww.churchofchrist-oh.org
Sunday MorningWorship Service
8:30 A.M. & 10:30 A.M.Wednesday Midweek
Worship Service 7:00 P.M.
1560 S.E. 9th Ave • 679-6959“It’s By Grace!”
Calvary ChapelOak Harbor
The Catholic Church Invites You….St. Augustine’s Parish • 675-2303
185 N Oak Harbor St. ~ Oak Harbor Masses:Saturday 5:00 pmSunday 8:00am & 9:30 amWed & Fri 9:00 am
On the web: www.staugustineoh.org
St. Mary’s Parish 678-6536207 Main St. ~ Coupeville
Masses:Sunday 11:15 amThurs 12:00 noon
Word OfEverlastingLife & FaithChurch
721 S.E. Barrington • Oak Harbor360-632-3642
SundayBible Study 9:00am
Worship Service 10:00amEvening Service 6:00pm
Come Worship With Us!Thursday Bible Study 7:00p.m.950 S.W. Upland Ct • Oak HarborPastor Dr. Thomas Stoneham Sr.,
Minister Donald Cole
Oak HarborAssembly of God
Brent Sorlien, Senior Pastor
Sunday Service 10 amCelebration Service/Kids’ Ministry 10 am
Mission Emanuel Spanish Services
Sunday Evening at 6pmChild Care Provided
319 SW 3rd Avenuewww.oakharborag.org
360-675-4852
Oak HarborLutheran ChurchNW 2nd Avenue & Heller RoadAcross the street from OHHS Staadium
Nursery Available Sunday Evening Prayer 6:30 PM at
St. Mary Catholic Church in CoupevillePastor Jeffrey Spencer
Pastor Marc Stroud, Caring MinstryLynne Ogren, Music & Children Ministry
679-1561
Saturday Worship ................. 5:30 p.m.
Sunday Worship ....8:00 & 10:30 a.m.Sunday School .........................9:15 a.m.
Whidbey IslandChurch of Christ
3143-G North Goldie RdOak Harbor
Sunday Worship ........9:00 a.m.Sunday Bible Study 10:00 a.m.Sunday Evening ........5:00 p.m.Wednesday Evening .6:00 p.m.
For more information call:Gary 675-5569Jerry 679-3986
Matthew 28:18-20
Come worship with us!Worship Services Sunday 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.
• Nursery All Services• Sunday School• AWANA
• Small Groups• MOPS• Youth Groups
2760 N Heller Rd • Oak Harbor www.oakharborfamilybible.org679-1585
St. Stephen’s AnglicanThe Rev. Paul Orritt
SUNDAY SERVICE8:00 AM
SOLEMN EUCHARIST
9:30 AMSUNG EUCHARIST
11:11 AMEUCHARIST CELEBRATIONwww.ststephensanglicans.org
2 CHURCHES - 1 BUILDING555 SE Regatta Dr.
Oak Harbor679-3431
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A Church, A FamilyA Spiritual Home
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Island Vineyard Community ChurchPastor James Gallagher
6:00-7:30 PMSUNDAY NIGHTS
www.islandvineyard.org
ConcordiaLutheranChurch
Missouri SynodWorship Service ......................Sunday 10:00amAdult Bible Study & Sunday School ...11:15amEvening Service ................Wednesday 6:30pm
Nursery Available
Pastor Juan Palm360-675-2548
Preschool 360-679-1697590 N. Oak Harbor St • Oak Harbor
www.concordialutheranwhidbey.org
Promote Your Place Of Worship In The Whidbey News-Times For Only $11.25/week For A Single Size Ad. Please call 360-675-6611
Come Worship With Us!
679-1288
Dorothy Eckhart Smith
Dorothy Eckhart Smith, 94, of Oak Harbor, died in her home on Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, surrounded by children and grandchildren. She was born in Manhattan Island, N.Y., on April 22, 1917, and
her family moved to Seattle when she was very young.
Dorothy attended Seattle College (Seattle University). A woman of varied interests and imagination, Dorothy became lead colorist for the photography department of Frederick & Nelson, a Marshall Field’s subsidiary in Seattle. She was a col-
umnist for the Yakima Our Times, the Catholic Progress of Seattle and has been pub-lished in other periodicals as well. She has written several books, and published “Crazy Dog and the Wolf” last year.
Dorothy was married to William (Bill) Joseph Smith of Fox Lake, Wisc., who preceded her in death in 1985. Bill Smith was a founder of both the Catholic Credit Union and Bi-Mart in
Yakima. They had five sons: James Michael (Peggy), John Francis (Clarice), Brendan Vincent, all of Seattle; Patrick William (Carme), of Seaside, Ore.; and Kevin (Christine), of Houston, Texas; and one daughter, Mairgret “Peggy” Smith of Oak Harbor, as well as 28 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.
The funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, Dec. 29, at 9 a.m. at St. Augustine’s
Catholic Church with Rev. Philip Raether. There will be a vigil service Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine’s as well. Family graveside services will fol-low at Tahoma Cemetery, Yakima. Friends and family are invited to share memo-ries and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com Arrangements entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor.
OBITUARY
Dorothy Eckhart Smith
WRITE TO US: The News-Times welcomes letters from its readers. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Letters should be typewritten and not exceed 250 words. They must be signed and include a daytime phone number.
Send items to P.O. Box 1200, Coupeville WA 98239, or email [email protected].
Page A6 WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
OPINIONWhidbey
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I am writing in response to a recent article that was in the paper regarding the mayor-elect donating a kid-ney. While I applaud Mr. Dudley for his self-sacrific-ing act, I would also like to raise awareness to the public for the need of donors for kidney transplants.
Since the early days of dialysis in Western Washington, Puget Sound Kidney Centers, a nonprofit organization, has been pro-viding life-sustaining dialy-sis treatments to our com-munity on Whidbey Island. Previously, we had a dialysis center in Clinton and relo-cated to Oak Harbor in 2005. In the last three years, four of our patients have received kidney transplants from deceased donors.
Although we do not see many living donor trans-plants, we are encouraged by Mr. Dudley’s act of kind-ness. Puget Sound Kidney Centers has several patients waiting on the transplant list to receive kidneys, which can take many years. In the meantime, they currently have kidney dialysis treat-ments three times a week, up to four and one-half hours each time. Mr. Dudley’s gen-erous offer gives hope to our patients.
Laura Ulam, RN, Direct Care Manager
Puget Sound Kidney Centers - Whidbey Island
I’m going to make myself a pariah (again), because I think we need to cut school funding instead of increas-ing it. Education costs have
risen faster that even medi-cal care with no detectable improvements. When the school folks come up with a plan to show how they are going to change from the same tired, failing, expen-sive methods they are using, I will listen, but I’m not vot-ing to provide more money until then.
Education doesn’t need multimillion dollar stadiums, doesn’t need hyper-expen-sive mansions on the hill. What it needs is account-ability for teaching students to read, write, speak, to think critically, to be able to do more than text and put con-doms on bananas.
Teachers are always whin-ing about raises, how about this: Dump the unions and get $50 more per month, get rid of seniority and tenure; both of those are horribly expensive and come out of your check. Try being
responsible for yourself, trust me, you’ll like it.
Why not run schools 12 months instead of 9, hav-ing three-fourths of the kids in school in any particular quarter, creating smaller class sizes, better facility uti-lization, and have teachers work year around like the real world.
How about yellow pag-ing food services, building maintenance, grounds main-tenance, administration, any-thing else that is not actual classroom teaching? Private businesses are notorious for efficiency that public opera-tions can only dream of hav-ing.
Show me some creative thinking and out-of-the-box planning, I’m with you. Same old, same old, don’t call me, I’ll call you.
Rick KiserOak Harbor
IN OUR OPINION
Few if any residents of Island County will look back at 2011 as a good year, but it was perhaps a year in which we started to transition toward better times.
The prime example is the SE Pioneer Way reconstruc-tion projects, resulting in a new look and one-way street in downtown Oak Harbor. The project had plenty of critics, but now that it’s substantially complete, it looks like the proponents were right. It’s a wide, beautiful boulevard with easy parking and pedestrian amenities. Once the power lines are placed under ground, the public art work is in place and flowers start blooming, it will become the magnet to townsfolk and visitors alike that proponents imagined.
This is an example of what government can do to help the economy: Provide the public infrastructure needed to help businesses succeed.
Other good news for the future is that doubts about the basing of the new P-8 Poseidon were quashed. Whidbey Naval Air Station will be receiving the new patrol planes and, combined with the new EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, the base’s long-term future seems to be secured and it will continue to be the backbone of Island County’s economy.
It was also good news that Nichols Brothers Boat Builders of Freeland proposed expanding to Oak Harbor in 2011. If city leaders can help this happen, it will shore up the lagging private sector employment in town.
Meanwhile, Coupeville continues to attract tourists and county government employment has stabilized after sev-eral years of downsizing. If the hospital can pass an expan-sion bond in 2012, that will be a big boost to the town and to the future of health care on the island.
As in many areas of the country, our biggest economic problem is housing. Foreclosures are still taking place, it’s hard for home buyers to raise the cash needed for a big down payment and developers are afraid to build houses because the demand for them is unclear with so many existing houses selling for less.
Once housing turns around, Island County’s economic future will be considerably brighter. Housing construction is historically one of our biggest employers, and lumber, appliance, furniture and home decorating stores need a strong housing market to prosper.
The year 2011 helped put Island County on the right track toward a brighter future. With a little help from our friends in state and federal government, we may finally turn the corner in 2012.
2012 looks more hopeful
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Funk resigned in the wake of findings by the state auditor. Exact reasons for the resignation remained a mystery and he later landed a similar job in Alaska.
Whidbey General Hospital faced an estimated $1.7 mil-lion in financial losses after self-reporting it had violated Stark Law requirements in Medicare billing.
Oak Harbor Mayor Jim Slowik made regional news when he took one of his campaign signs out of a downtown store window. It had been changed to read “Vote Him Out.” Police Chief Rick Wallace determined no crime had been committed.
The Navy announced the new P-3 Poseidon would not immediately enter service at Whidbey, choosing to first introduce the airplane in Hawaii and Florida. But Whidbey Island Naval Air Station was still slated to eventually receive the plane, which will replace the vener-able P-3 Orion.
Whidbey General Hospital directors decided to ask vot-ers to approve $50 million in bonds for an expansion project.
KOMO TV commentator Ken Schram awarded Mayor Jim Slowik a “Shrammie” for taking his campaign sign from a private busi-ness. Earlier in the month, a Shrammie went to State Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, for introducing a bill to make coffee the official state beverage.
The ferry system’s new-est vessel, the Chetzemoka, ran aground in Keystone Harbor. The “soft ground-ing” canceled five sailings between Coupeville and Port Townsend.
Island County announced it would end trash collections at county parks.
Tenants in Oak Harbor’s Windmill Court mobile home park were evicted to make room for “upcoming development of the prop-erty.”
A golden shovel ceremony officially began the SE Pioneer Way project, ending 35 years of talking about what to do downtown.
City Councilman Scott Dudley announced he would run against Mayor Jim Slowik in November.
Arne Freund, longtime Oak Harbor resident farmer, businessman and former county sheriff, passed away at the age of 92.
Oak Harbor announced it would spend $167,000 to sup-
port downtown merchants during the construction project.
In Coupeville, the old fire hall on Alexander Street was converted into the new home for the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce.
Sailors from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station helped Japan recover from a huge tsunami.
Island County announced 337 property foreclosure notices were ready to be delivered.
To save money, the Oak Harbor School Board short-ened the day for middle school students by 30 min-utes.
A gray whale known as Dubnuk entertained a crowd as he splashed around in Penn Cove during a Sunday afternoon.
Oak Harbor residents Bob and June Sebo pledged to donate $900,000 to Whidbey General Hospital if voters would approve the expansion bond.
Fire engulfed and totally destroyed a home owned by Jeanette Omar on NE Leisure Street in Coupeville.
Former Island County Commissioner Gordon Koetje, a builder, developer and Oak Harbor native, died due to heart problems.
Loann Gulick, longtime election supervisor in the Island County Auditor’s Office, announced her retire-ment.
Business Manager Ray Thomas predicted Coupeville schools would have to cut $1.4 million from next year’s budget.
Census figures showed an aging Island County popula-tion. By 2025, 47 percent of islanders will be age 50 or older, compared to 25 percent in 1986.
Coupeville Lions Club member Spence Purvis was honored for 70 years of Lionhood.
North Whidbey Fire and Rescue paid $1.55 million for a new headquarters building on Midway Boulevard. It was formerly known as the Chicago Title Building.
The Whidbey Island Campus of Skagit Valley College saw its staff cut by 11 full-time positions and reduced time for others due to a decrease in state funding.
Oak Harbor’s waterfront trail project, years in the making, was capped by the official opening of the Scenic Heights Trailhead.
Aircraft enthusiasts welcomed home the A-3 Skywarrior at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. It was the last flight of the
“Whale,” a Cold War era jet that will go on static display at the air station.
A private health care company, Capella, inquired about purchasing Whidbey General Hospital. Reaction was negative.
The state Department of Transportation announced it would spend $2.3 million to make the Arnold Road intersection with Highway 20 safer.
Island County District Court Judge Peter Strow, 59, was injured when his motor-cycle hit a deer on Highway 20 north of Coupeville.
REVIEWCONTINUED FROM A1
Investigators pour through material in search of the bones of Native Americans on Pioneer Way after construction workers discovered human remains. That discovery prompted the delay of the one-way project on Pioneer Way.
Whidbey General Hospital employees cram into a room to care for a patient. The cramped conditions was one of the reasons officials wanted voters to approve a $50 million bond to fund an expansion. Voters ultimately rejected the proposal.
Samantha Bowling and Jordyn Weichert were sentenced to prison in May for their roles on a car accident on North Whidbey Island that killed three people.
Island County Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock threw out a lawsuit by Commissioner Kelly Emerson against the county, two county employees and former Commissioner John Dean, saying there were “no genuine issues of material fact.”
Island Transit landed a grant for $896,000 to put toward a transit park, road-way safety improvements and native plant species protection near its Central Whidbey headquarters.
Basil Badley, husband of State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, was taken to court in a sexual harassment alle-gation by former campaign worker Courtney Jones. He was found guilty and fined $50,000.
Jordyn Weichert, 22, was found guilty of three counts of vehicular homicide. Samanth Bowling, 22, a front seat passenger in the car, had earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of vehicular homicide. They caused a two-car accident Sept. 3, 2010, that killed three men. Weichert later was sentenced to eight years in prison and Bowling to five years.
Whidbey General Hospital’s $50 expansion proposal failed at the polls. The 55 percent “yes” vote was short of the required 60 percent majority.
JuneFarmers complained
that the wet, cold, Whidbey Island spring had delayed the growing season and reduced the amount of pro-duce available to farmers market shoppers.
The Oak Harbor School Board cut 12 teaching posi-
tions, one administrator and 16 classified positions due to state funding cutbacks.
The Oak Harbor City Council unanimously agreed to fund two art projects, a bronze mermaid and a silver-colored moon and wave sculpture, totaling $59,500. The Arts Council had pro-posed five.
Native American remains were found during work on the Pioneer Way project in downtown Oak Harbor, forc-ing suspension of work.
It was announced that the Barefoot Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore, would be sent
to Island County for sen-tencing on numerous state charges. He had already pleaded guilty to seven fed-eral charges.
It was learned that Oak Harbor had ignored a rec-ommendation from the state Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation to hire an archeologist before the Pioneer Way project began.
Island County asked a judge to require Commissioner Kelly Emerson to pay $35,919 in legal fees it had rung up due to her lawsuit.
Oak Harbor decided to hire an archeologist before beginning work on a long-planned storm water outfall project.
JulyNichols Brothers Boat
Builders in Freeland, which builds high-speed catama-rans, tugboats, fishing boats and helps build state ferries, expressed an interest in expanding to Oak Harbor, on the Navy’s Seaplane Base. Talks continue.
The newly-built, 64-car ferry Salish went to work on the Coupeville to Port Townsend route, joining its sister boat, the Chetzemoka. It restored two-vessel ferry to the route for the first time since November 2007.
Full-time students at Skagit Valley College, includ-ing the Whidbey Campus, learned their tuition will increase 13 percent.
Three members of the Oak Harbor Arts Commission resigned, unhappy that the City Council had largely ignored the commission’s recom-mendations for downtown art.
State parks visitors couldn’t get in unless they paid for a $10 daily Discover Pass, or $30 annual pass.
Whidbey Island Bank cele-brated 50 years of operations with a party for 500 people at its Coupeville branch, where it was founded. It’s now based in Oak Harbor and has 30 branches and 460 full-time employees.
The Oak Harbor City Council pulled the plug on the long-dreamed-of pier project, declining to make upland improvements for a pier that may never get funded.
Solar panels were installed at the Greenbank Farm,
providing 25.1 kilowatt hours of electricity, or enough to power four houses.
Six Indian tribes sent rep-resentatives to Oak Harbor to talk about the Native American bones found dur-ing Pioneer Way construc-tion.
Work resumed on the SE Pioneer Way project after a permit was issued by the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation.
Dr. Donald Johnson abruptly closed his Coupeville and Anacortes dermatology clinics, leaving hundreds of patients without access to their records. Johnson was facing financial prob-lems and domes-tic violence allegations.
The Centennial of Naval Aviation show at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station attracted an estimated 15,000 people.
AugustSix downtown businesses
in Coupeville were burglar-ized in one night, with thieves stealing everything from toys to works of art.
Archeologists arrived in Oak Harbor to begin exam-ining sites where Native American bones were dug up during the SE Pioneer Way project.
Coupeville City Councilman Tom Tack resigned to take a job on the East Coast.
Archeologists discovered
Page A8 WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
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REVIEWCONTINUED FROM A7
An employee at Deception Pass State Park talks with a motorist the same day the Dis-cover Pass was implemented. The pass is designed to replace taxpayer dollars by charg-ing drivers $10 a day or $30 a year.
Donald Johnson
SEE REVIEW, A16
Page A9
ISLAND LIVINGWhidbey
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
--Edith Lovejoy Pierce
The brand new year is upon us and like almost everyone, I’m full of good ideas and intentions. In talking with others, it seems a whole lot of us are hoping to regularly read God’s Word in 2012 but aren’t always sure where to begin.
One of the best sources is a selection of daily readings that will take you through the entire Bible in one year. Such selections are easily accessed online, in Bibles and through the use of free phone apps. A quick Google or App Store search will take you directly to numerous resources that will fit your style and schedule.
I own both a Bible and a journal with daily readings that are easy to follow, but I find hand-writing my thoughts to be terribly frustrating as I can’t write quickly or neatly enough. My go-to source for inspiration in 2012 is a daily Bible selection on my phone. I can then journal into a word processing program on my computer if I’m inspired. I’m also OK with printing my responses and placing them in a binder so I can look back on them or share my thoughts with someone.
The format for this kind of journaling is straightforward and workable. It has four steps captured in the acronym SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.
If you’re reading through the Bible in a year, begin each day by reading the daily selection. Don’t focus on every detail but prayerfully ask God to make a verse or two stand out to you. Sound odd? Give it a try and be amazed. Asking God to reveal hope, challenge, information and insight in a direct and personal way will present itself in scripture every day in surprising ways. If you don’t understand what you’re reading, grab a commentary, head once again to the Internet for additional information, or phone a friend. Then write out the scripture that stands out.
Next, stand back for a moment and observe. What do you think God is saying in that scrip-ture? Why was it included in the Bible? What do you have to say about it?
Third, apply this particular scripture to your life. What is God saying to you? Is this a new idea or an old one you might want to consider again? What are you going to do about this idea? Might you rethink a dream? Rise to a challenge? Sink deeply in His love? Rejoice when it becomes apparent this is an answer to a prayer or a long-ing you have?
Finish by writing a simple prayer. Sketch. Write a poem. Strum your guitar. Take a walk. Knit and pray. Send a loving email. Design a card. Message someone. Cook a healthy meal. Hug your child.
This is a life journal, after all. It’s about think-ing and writing and living.
Starting anewwith God’s wordFAITHFUL LIVINGBy Joan Bay Klope
By REBECCA OLSONStaff reporter
The Whidbey Playhouse’s stage is about to get wild with hair pulling, punching and rapier fights.
Stephen James Anderson, a naval officer, Shakespeare expert and certified stage combat instructor, will teach two work-shops at the Whidbey Playhouse: “Shakespeare De-Mystified” and “Sunday Fight Club.”
“Shakespeare De-Mystified” offers an introductory experi-ence to the language and works of Shakespeare through reading texts aloud and performing a col-lage of scenes.
“To be perfectly honest, Shakespeare is very raw, very sexy, very innovative,” Anderson said. Anderson has acted in and directed many Shakespeare plays in his 22-year theater career and has taught theater classes in the United States and Asia. Overall, he has worked on more than 400 plays as a director, actor and choreographer.
“But a lot of people are scared of it,” said Mary K. Hallen, the Playhouse’s workshop coordi-nator, adding that she’s learned some of her best curses from Shakespeare, her favorite of which is “cream-faced loon.”
“You’ll see classic theater dis-cussed less in public schools so we need a place to discuss that,” Hallen said. One of her fondest memories was when she taught fifth-graders about the Shakespeare play “Macbeth.” Once the language was explained to them, they connected with the story.
“We’d like to offer that to the community,” Hallen said.
“If you can tackle Shakespeare and find success then you can tackle anything in theater and find your way,” Anderson said, adding that learning Shakespeare will give people the ability to stand in front of people and express themselves effectively.
“You too can be calling your enemies cream-faced loons,” Hallen added.
“Sunday Fight Club” is a stage combat workshop for people “to come into physical contact with each other safely,” said Anderson, a member of the Society of American Fight Directors. He has served as fight director on several productions.
Students will learn everything from hair pulling to choking to rapier combat.
But the class goes beyond techniques to address the nature of violence in humanity.
“It’s an opportunity to start dis-cussing the broader themes that have plagued our world since its inception,” Anderson said, add-ing that, “In my opinion, there is no play written, there is no movie or TV show made, that doesn’t have some violence.”
As a teacher, Anderson has witnessed the violence of his stu-dents.
“I think the only way to battle back against violence is to discuss it,” Anderson said. People need to have a conversation about where violence comes from and how once violent actions are commit-ted, they can’t be undone, no
matter if the violence is physical or verbal.
Anderson said he hopes that people who are uncomfortable in their bodies will learn move-ment and control. There’s noth-ing better for Anderson than see-ing people find their stance and their voice and then realize their discovery.
“It’s an electric experience,”
Anderson said.“That’s what we as teachers
live for,” Hallen said.These workshops are helpful
because they offer a “safe place to experiment.” No one can be judgmental because everyone’s learning at the same level and “you are all there because you share the same interest,” Hallen
said.Anderson said his favorite part
of doing workshops is “getting to hear people’s stories, seeing where they’re coming from. Basically, getting to see people’s genius.”
Anderson teaches workshops around the nation but is donating his time to the Playhouse. He also chose to give his time to his country by joining the Navy 18 months ago. Anderson said he’d felt like something was missing from his life and that he needed to volunteer more.
“So I truly joined the Navy because I wanted to serve our country,” Anderson said, adding that donating his time for these workshops is a way for him to give back to a community that supports the military.
Alongside the learning, Anderson said the simplest ele-ment to the workshops is, “It is fun. It’s playful. It’s physical. It’s not sitting around. It’s going to be up on your feet.”
The word “drama” comes from the Greek word “to do,” and Anderson takes that to heart.
“So let’s do it!” he said.Profits from these workshops
will fund theater productions.Space is limited so sign up at
the Whidbey Playhouse or call 679-2237.
Rapiers, Shakespeare come to Whidbey Playhouse
Mary K. Hallen and Stephen James Anderson demonstrate a fight move students will learn in the Whidbey Playhouse’s Sunday Fight Club course.
Shakespeare De-Mystified: Jan. 5 through Feb. ●8, Wednesdays 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon. Fee: $60; $45 for Playhouse members.
Sunday Fight Club: Jan. 15 through Feb. 19, Sun- ●days 1 to 3 p.m..
Fee: $70; $55 for Playhouse members. ●
Both workshops are for ages 16 and up. Limited ●space; sign up at the Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor, or call 679-2237.
Page A10 WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
Call us at (360) 675-6611, or email scores to [email protected].
GAME OF THE WEEK The CHS girls (5:15) and boys (7 p.m.) basketball teams travel to rival South Whidbey Tuesday, Jan. 3.SPORTS
Whidbey
There was not a lot of holiday cheer for the Oak Harbor boys basketball team as it lost twice at the Bellevue Holiday Tournament at Bellevue Community College this week.
A physical Monroe team wore down Oak Harbor and steadily pulled away for a 69-57 win Wednesday, then the Wildcats went into the deep freeze and fell 52-32 to Juanita Thursday.
Monroe entered the game with an unim-pressive 2-4 record, but the mark is deceiving. All four losses were by three points or less, including a two-point loss to fifth-ranked and unbeaten Snohomish and a one-point loss to 7-1 Lake Stevens.
Oak Harbor coach Mike Washington Sr. said, “They were physically stronger than us and played more aggressive than us. They are a very solid team.”
He added, “I thought the kids fought hard. We were just physically undermanned, and we missed Kevawn (Brooks).”
Brooks, Oak Harbor’s strongest inside presence, is out with a wrist injury.
Monroe led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter and 31-22 at the half. The Bearcats put the game away in the third quarter by outscoring Oak Harbor 19-12 with the help of several transition baskets.
Monroe committed only seven turnovers to Oak Harbor’s 12 and outscored the Wildcats 11-0 off the mistakes.
A bright spot for Oak Harbor was balanced scoring.
Washington Sr. said, “We had four in double figures for the first time in a long time.”
He was particularly pleased with the play of JoJo Webster who led Oak Harbor in scoring with 16 points, including 12 off three-pointers.
Drew Washington scored 15 points, Mike Washington Jr. 13 and Matt Burgoyne 10.
Cameron Faulkner had two points and Paul
Johannsen one to complete the scoring.Burgoyne and Dayne Herron each grabbed
six rebounds.Tony Peloquin had 22 points and 10
rebounds for the Bearcats.After having four players score in double
figures in its previous game, Oak Harbor had just one score more than four points in the loss to Juanita.
Oak Harbor hit only 11 of 47 shots for 23.4 percent; Juanita took only more more shot by hit 21 for 43.8 percent.
Oak Harbor particularly struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on only one of 16 (6.25 percent). Juanita was 4-for-12 (33 percent).
The Rebels from Kirkland also outscored Oak Harbor 16-8 off turnovers after commit-ting three less, 16, than the ‘Cats.
Washington Jr. rang up 19 of Oak Harbor’s 32 points. Zach Gibbs scored four; Drew Washington, Burgoyne, Elias Whitefoot and Chris Hailer had two each; and Webster one.
Washington Sr. said the Rebels often triple-teamed Washington Jr., but his teammates couldn’t take advantage offensively, collecting one less field goal combined (five) for the game than Washington Jr. and shooting just 17 percent.
Juanita (3-6) jumped on the cold ‘Cats early, going up 17-6 in the first quarter, and led 27-17 at the half and 40-25 after three periods.
The Rebels also had only one player in double figures, Ty Eng with 16, but had four others get at least six.
Washington Sr. credited Juanita’s defense for some of Oak Harbor’s shooting woes, but said, “We had a lot of good shots, we just couldn’t make any.”
Oak Harbor (3-3, 3-6) gets back into Wesco play Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Glacier Peak (4-3, 6-4) at 7:15 p.m.
Oak Harbor drops 2 at Bellevue
By JIM WALLERSports editor
A third-quarter surge by Pullman pushed the Greyhounds to a 53-44 win over the host Oak Harbor girls basketball team in the opening round of the Santa Slam Tournament Thursday, Dec. 29.
Oak Harbor scored the first basket of the third quar-ter against Pullman, then the Greyhounds went on a 14-0 run over the next six-and-a-half minutes to take control and earn their first win in six games. The Wildcats fell to 1-8.
During its 14-0 spurt, Pullman picked up six points off turnovers, four off free throws and two more from an offensive rebound.
Down early, Oak Harbor came back to take the lead at the end of the first quarter, 11-10, as five different play-ers scored for the Wildcats, including Tatiana Cumming who hit a big three that put the ‘Cats on top.
The second quarter was a foul-shooting display as the teams combined to shoot 22; the Greyhounds hit eight of 12 and led 26-23 at the half. Midway through the quar-ter Pullman used a 9-0 run to wipe away a 15-12 Oak Harbor lead.
Oak Harbor trailed by 17, 51-34, with 4:58 left in the game before a late rush cut the margin to single digits.
Nine different Wildcats scored, led by Lia Pantoleon with 11. Morgan Young had seven, Cumming five, Annie Leete five, Jalani Bobo four, Kaileen Burleson four, Kelsey Rankin four, Rayan Russell two and Dominique Jackson two.
Oak Harbor, already short-handed with starter Ciera Wiser and sixth-man Marissa Lewis out, ran into foul trou-ble.
Posts Rankin and Jackson had three fouls by the sec-ond quarter and, along with another post, Bobo, had four
in the third. Each sat signifi-cant minutes.
The game featured 40 fouls that resulted in 50 free throws. Oak Harbor connect-ed on only 12 of 26; Pullman hit 16 of 24.
Coach Trisha Clayville said her team “hit panic mode” in the third quarter and couldn’t recover. She did see positives: “My kids didn’t give up. They got down and then got back into the game.”
Oak Harbor returns to league play when Glacier Peak (6-0, 8-1) visits Wednes-day, Jan. 4, at 7:15 p.m.
Pullman’s14-0 run sinks ‘Cats
Oak Harbor’s Jalani Bobo, with help from Rayan Russell (21), stuffs Pullman’s Shayla Robinson.
Heidi McNeill, a 2005 graduate of Oak Harbor High School, is playing profession-al basketball in Germany this winter.
She previously played in Austria and Australia before returning to Europe to com-pete for Viernheim, which is about 45 miles south of Frankfurt.
TSA Amicitia Viernheim is currently in second place with a 10-1 record in the southern division.
McNeill, a 6-3 forward who played for the University of Washington, is third on her team in scoring (11.6 points per game) and second in rebounding (7).
She said, “I would call us the basketball equivalent of the New York Yankees. It seems as though every-one loves to hate us. It is in the second league but I don’t think there is much dif-
ference in the leagues other than the teams in the first leagues have more money and a better following. They also play nationally all over Germany whereas we only play in the South.”
“I find this league much more physical and faster than the league that I played for in Australia,” she said. “There is not as much athletic talent as there is in the states but the players have a better range in skills.”
The German game is played at a faster pace with a shorter shot clock and an eight-second backcourt rule, she said.
Her team doesn’t prac-tice everyday, which makes it “more laid back than the states,” McNeill said. This allows more time for travel-ing and sightseeing.
Last summer she averaged 17 points and nine rebounds
a game for the Lakeside Lightning in Australia and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, as voted on by opposing coaches and ref-erees.
She said, “I loved being in Australia, but had my ‘Aussie’ fill.”
Winter swim school registration at John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool begins at noon Friday, Jan. 6.
Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from Jan. 10 through Feb. 2, and are avail-able for parent-child, pre-school, school-age and adults.
Call 675-7665 for more information.
Registration for the 2012 North Whidbey Little League baseball and softball seasons is under way.
Forms are available at Big 5, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Dairy Queen.
The forms can also be found on the NWLL website (eteamz.active.com/NWLLOH/) and can be mailed to the league address.
Registration days will also be held at the Navy Exchange and North Whidbey Middle School in January and February.
For more information, call the league at 679-1522.
The Northwest Baseball Institute offers personalized hitting, pitching, fielding and catching instruction to students that desire to improve their fundamental skills and be-come better players.
Contact Bill Calkins at 360-391-3438 or [email protected] or visit www.nwbi.net for more information.
SPORTS IN BRIEF
Heidi McNeill
Page A11
Welcome the new ferry: Celebrate the new addition to the ferry fleet, Kennewick, at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6. Passengers walk on the ferry free at 10:15 a.m. at the Coupeville dock to join the celebration at the Port Townsend ferry terminal. See Activities listing for more information.ACTIVITIES
Whidbey
ELKS ROCK OUT ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
The Oak Harbor Elks Lodge will host the Don Richards Band on New Year’s Eve. They will be playing classic rock along with other music. The Dec. 31 event will start at 8:30 p.m. and continue to 1 a.m. Heavy hors’ doeurves will be served followed by breakfast around 12:30 a.m. Party favors will be sup-plied. This is a membership drive and will be open to the public. Tickets must be purchased in advance for $30 by calling 675-7111 or 675-1321.
FIRST DAY HIKE AT DECEPTION PASS
A “First Day Hike” will be held New Year’s Day at Deception Pass State Park. The hike offers the op-portunity to celebrate the holiday by connecting with the outdoors while support-ing healthy lifestyle habits in a natural setting. The mile-and-a-half hike at Deception Pass will begin at 11 a.m. at the Bowman Bay parking area. The trail is moderate and children must be at least 5 to participate. Hot choco-late will be provided after the hike. Participants should bring water. Similar hikes are being held at other state parks off the island. Visit www.parks.wa.gov/events.
POLAR BEARS AT DOUBLE BLUFF
The South Whidbey Polar Bear Dive will return to Double Bluff beach south of Freeland on New Year’s Day. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and the jump will be held at noon. The cost is $15 per person with $5 off for Polar Bears who bring a bag of canned food for the Good Cheer Food Bank.
MONDAY GARBAGE COLLECTION DELAYEDOak Harbor city offices
will be closed Jan. 2 due to the New Year’s holiday. Garbage and recyclables usually collected on Monday will instead be collected Tuesday, Jan. 3.
HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR LOSS
“Living with Loss” be-reavement classes are being offered in January, February and March at Whidbey Gen-eral Hospital, with the first starting Jan. 3 in Conference Room B. There is no cost for this seminar. To register call Dave Bieniek at 678-7656, ext. 8245.
LIONS SCREEN KIDS FOR VISION, HEARINGThe Oak Harbor Lions
Club will sponsor a vision and hearing health screening for 2,600 school age chil-dren living within the Oak Harbor School District. On Jan. 3, 4 and 5, grades kin-dergarten through third and fifth will receive a vision and hearing screening with re-sults forwarded to parents. The Lions Clubs Health Screening Mobile Unit will be present for the four-day event. For information contact Lion Sharon Ryan, 279-2802.
DAR LEARNS ABOUT MUSEUM
Daughters of the Ameri-can Revolution, a woman’s organization that encour-ages patriotism, promotes historic preservation and provides educational op-portunities, meets Jan. 4 at 11:30 a.m. at the Coupeville Library, 788 NW Alexander Street. The program is on the new George Washing-ton Museum. Bring a bag lunch; coffee will be pro-vided. Contact 678-6442.
A NIGHT WITH THE STARS
Adults can view “The Help” for free at the Coupe-ville Library Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Set in Mississippi dur-ing the 1960s, a society girl turns her friends’ lives upside down when she in-terviews the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Rated PG-13. Popcorn provided by the Friends of the Coupeville Library. Call 678-4911.
PLAYHOUSE HOLDS AUDITIONS
Audition for Whidbey Playhouse’s “Wish Upon a Star,” a musical revue for all ages by coming prepared to sing a Disney family song.
Auditions will be Jan. 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for adult vocal soloists; Friday, Jan. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for adult chorus and small en-sembles; and Saturday, Jan. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. for child vocal soloists and children’s chorus. Call 679-2237.
BAILEY, SMITH SPEAK TO WOMEN
Republican Women’s Club of North Whidbey holds a luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 5 at El Cazador Restaurant, Oak Harbor. Guest speakers are District 10 representatives, Barbara Bailey and Norma Smith. Both will speak about the recent special session and answer questions about the upcoming legislative ses-sion. For information, call Benye, 678-4602 or Joyce, 320-7912.
CREATIVE KIDS DESIGN CALENDARSNorth Whidbey Parks
and Recreation District’s Creative Kids Club will meet Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oak Harbor Se-nior Center, 51 SE Jerome Street, for “Design a 2012 Calendar.” All supplies are provided for just $6.75 for families or $3 per person. Please sign up by calling
360-969-6737.
THE BEST TREES FOR WHIDBEY GARDENSThe Coupeville Garden
Club will meet Jan. 5. The speaker will be Eric Stude-baker from Bayview Farm and Garden about his favor-ite trees for Whidbey gar-dens. Please note the new meeting time at 10 a.m., rather than 1 p.m. Meetings are held in the Coupeville Recreation Hall.
DISABLED VETS MEET AT COLLEGE
Disabled American Vet-erans, Chapter 47, Oak Harbor, meet Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Sno-Isle Library meeting room, Skagit Valley College, Oak Harbor. For information call the DAV of-fice at 257-4801.
FERRY CELEBRATED IN PORT TOWNSENDThe communities of Port
Townsend, Whidbey Island, and Kennewick will join Washington State Ferries and state and local officials
to welcome the new ferry, Kennewick, to the state ferry fleet at 11 a.m. Jan. 6. The event celebrating com-pletion of the ferry will take place aboard the Kenne-wick at the Port Townsend ferry terminal. The ferry system is offering free pas-sage for walk-on passengers on the 10:15 a.m. regularly scheduled sailing aboard the Salish. Walk-on passengers are advised to park at the Coupeville Park and Ride on South Main Street and ride the 9:45 a.m. Island Transit Route 6 to the ferry ter-minal. After the festivities, Route 6 will take attendees back to the park and ride. This bus runs once an hour.
ADVENTURES OF A WAR BRIDE
“Unbelievable Adventures of a World War II German War Bride,” by Ingeborg M. Johnston is a gripping, he-roic, and at times humorous memoir of one girl’s survival in war-torn Berlin and the extraordinary life she cre-ated for herself and her
family in post-war America. This is the story of hope and dreams, of courage and risk-taking, of falling in love and following her heart, a bigger-than-life story that cannot be missed. Meet the author Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. at Wind and Tide Books in downtown Oak Harbor.
CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION
Learn about pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. The cost is $80; medical cou-pons accepted. Class is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 7 in the Whidbey General Hospital conference room. Registra-tion required: call 678-7656 ext. 4005 or 321-7656 ext. 4005.
ZIPPY’S LIFE CELEBRATION SET
A memorial service has been set for the 9-year-old Langley girl who died in a tragic accident on Christmas Day. A celebration of life for Tobiah “Zippy” Leon-ard will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at Fireseed Catering, 6051 Coles Road, Langley. “Zippy” died during the Christmas day windstorm when a 20-foot-long section of a fir tree fell on her fam-ily’s car as it was traveling on Bailey Road.
DEC. 31SAT.
JAN. 1SUN.
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JAN. 4WED.
JAN. 5THURS.
JAN. 6FRI.
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Hannah Eckles crosses her arms while examining the position of a Lego guy and Katie Blaine intently watches a stop action animation project taking place Thursday at the Oak Harbor Library. Twenty-seven children spent part of their holiday using the beloved toys in a stop animation project. The children would tweak their Lego figurines slightly before taking a photo that comprises the animation short. The event was sponsored by the Friends of Sno-Isle Libraries.
Saturday, December 31, 2011, Whidbey Classified, PAGE 1
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more bones on Pioneer Way, bringing the number of indi-viduals unearthed to seven.
Concerned about vocifer-ous critics, the Whidbey General Hospital Board of Directors had two police officers in attendance at a meeting.
Dan Dodds, 62, of Coupeville, died after land-ing a 28-pound salmon while fishing off the shore near the ferry landing at Keystone.
The Island County com-missioners decriminalized barking dogs, making them civil violations instead.
The Island County Juvenile Detention Facility with 21 beds averaged only 7.3 daily inmates in 2010, prompting calls for changes.
The landmark Ford dealership building at the corner of Highway 20 and SE Barrington Drive in Oak Harbor was demolished. It had been vacant for years.
A levy renewal to support John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool in Oak Harbor was defeated at the polls, falling 4 points short of the 60 percent needed to pass.
Oak Harbor attorney Mark Theune, 58, was killed in a scuba diving accident in Lake Michigan.
SeptemberCoupeville dermatologist
Dr. Russell Johnson didn’t appear in court on a domes-tic violence charge, resulting in the issuing of a $100,000 arrest warrant.
The city handed over security of the Pioneer Way archeology site to members of the Swinomish Tribal Community.
A 36-year-old Oak Harbor man was arrested after his 9-year-old son brought a loaded .45 caliber Ruger handgun to school in his backpack.
The Island County com-missioners continued to disagree, as Republican Kelly Emerson issued her own “state of the county” report, in response to the one issued by Democrats Helen Price Johnson and Angie Homola.
The county removed tons of boulders from Ala Spit in a salmon restoration effort, but some locals worried the spit might disappear.
Complaining about bad publicity in the press, the Whidbey General Hospital board decided not to go back to voters with an expansion bond issue in February 2012.
City officials estimated the Native American bone dis-coveries had added $562,000 to the cost of the SE Pioneer Way project.
The Department of Defense gave $2.16 million to the Oak Harbor School District to improve student reading skills.
Emergency responders rescued Oak Harbor resi-dent Bob Barber after he got stuck in his hot tub.
OctoberA 30-year-old homeless
man, Joshua Lambert, was subject to a manhunt and arrested after his two grand-fathers living in separate homes were killed in knifing incidents. They reportedly refused to provide him with firearms.
Oak Harbor celebrated the “grand opening” of SE Pioneer Way, although parts of the project were still incomplete, awaiting resolu-tion of the human remains problem.
Island Transit was given $17.92 million in federal funding to build a new head-quarters and associated facil-ities at its Central Whidbey location.
Island County Sheriff Mark Brown warned North Whidbey homeowners about a rash of daytime burglaries.
Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue mothballed the station on Morris Road due partly to lack of volunteers. It was the district’s oldest active station.
NovemberProtesters “occupied”
spaces at Highway 20 and Main Street and near the Clinton Ferry terminal in an effort to “make them pay.”
Deception Pass Ranger Jack Hartt wrestled a woman planning to commit suicide away from the bridge railing.
Oak Harbor City Councilman Scott Dudley defeated incumbent Jim Slowik, ending Slowik’s bid for a second term as mayor. The levy to support the city swimming pool passed on the second time around.
Joshua Lambert, accused of killing one of his grandfa-thers and suspected of kill-ing the other, filed a “motion of insanity” with the court.
County Commissioner Kelly Emerson protested when the other two commis-sioners refused to elect her chairwoman of the board.
Detectives admitted they had “hit a wall” in the search for Oak Harbor resident Betty Tews, 81, who went missing in June.
Whidbey Island food
banks announced they were running short for the holi-days.
Artist Wayne Lewis could find no takers for a bronze sculpture of an Indian carry-ing two salmon he wanted to donate for placement of SE Pioneer Way.
The Army Corps of Engineers started dredging Keystone Harbor to make it easier for the Coupeville ferry to navigate.
DecemberOak Harbor City
Councilman stirred contro-versy with his failed attempt to impose a hiring and firing freeze before new Mayor Scott Dudley could take office.
Hundreds were attracted to downtown Oak Harbor for the first tree lighting ceremony since SE Pioneer Way was improved.
Oak Harbor City Councilman Jim Campbell, a Republican, announced he will run for county commissioner against the incumbent, Democrat Angie Homola.
Washington State Parks announced half of all full-time employees would be laid off.
A small airplane crashed into Ebey’s Bluff and burst into flames, killing pilot Michael Heaton Sr., 59, who recently moved to Whidbey Island.
A planned marina moor-age increase was scuttled by the Oak Harbor City Council over worries that it might reduce occupancy.
Colton Harris-Moore, the infamous “Barefoot Bandit,” was given a sen-tence of just over 7 years in prison by Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill.
Planned Parenthood announced the closure of its Oak Harbor clinic, which had been in existence for 26 years.
Oak Harbor Mayor-elect Scott Dudley offered to give one of his kidneys to a stranger in Canada.
Coupeville Town Marshal David Penrod retired, replaced by Larry Davenport of Duvall.
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REVIEWCONTINUED FROM A8
Colton Harris-Moore, aka the Barefoot Bandit, was sentenced to seven years in prison by Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill.
